Djokovic Likely to Face Troubles in France After Australia


with Novak Djokovic returned to his native SerbiaA big question mark arises as to what will happen next for the best male tennis player in the world, unable to compete in the Australian Open due to the lack of a coronavirus vaccine.

French officials said this week that players must be vaccinated to compete in the French Open after the four Grand Slam tournaments scheduled for May.

If Mr Djokovic refuses to be vaccinated, he will likely miss a second major tournament in a row, reflecting a major shift in the way public officials approach Covid requirements and possible exemptions. As symbolic as Australia’s refusal to give special treatment to Mr Djokovic is, it may be just the beginning.

Authorities in Spain, where Mr Djokovic has a home, urged him to “lead by example” and get vaccinated. In Monte Carlo, where Mr Djokovic also has a home, organizers of a tournament he won earlier said they were waiting for directions from the French government for the 2022 edition in April.

Mr. Djokovic may compete at Wimbledon in June, but under current guidelines, he may be banned from competing at the US Open a few months later, as foreign travelers must be vaccinated to enter the United States with very limited exceptions.

After France passed a Covid pass-through law on Sunday that required people to be vaccinated to enter restaurants, cinemas and gyms, the country’s Ministry of Sports said there would be no exemptions for athletes.

“Who would understand if we let some of our citizens go out, asking them to make an effort and follow the rules?” Stanislas Guerini, leader of President Emmanuel Macron’s party, said this week on French radio. He described Mr Djokovic’s unvaccinated behavior as “irresponsible”.

The French Open is scheduled to start on May 22, and Mr. Djokovic is pursuing a record 21st Grand Slam title. He, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal each won 20.

Mr Djokovic is one of the top 100 unvaccinated male players and some of his rivals have welcomed France’s decision.

“At least they’re saying, ‘OK, no unvaccinated players are allowed to play at the French Open,'” said Alexander Zverev, now world number 3 in men’s tennis. “We already know that and I can imagine there won’t be any exemptions and that’s fine.”



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